"Chinese Police on Budapest Streets" | Tibet, Taiwan Flags Barred As Xi Jinping Visits Hungary

China’s growing influence in Hungary was in full display, and not just with the red carpet welcome President Xi Jinping received in the country. “Chinese police” allegedly patrolled the streets of Budapest as hundreds of people gathered to catch a glimpse of Xi’s motorcade. Budapest also saw many Chinese nationals in red baseball caps, claiming to be volunteers with China’s embassy, allegedly countering Hungarians. The men wearing red caps allegedly attempted to prevent activists from displaying Tibetan and Taiwanese flags. A Hungarian MP said he was approached by a group of such men as they tried to place EU flags on a bridge in Budapest. Meanwhile, Xi concluded his five-day trip to Europe amid economic strains between Beijing and Brussels and tensions over the Russia-Ukraine war.